ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE PRACTICE 2023 A QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains:
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Maternal-Newborn Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Pharmacology and Parenteral Therapies
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Leadership, Management, and Delegation
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the foundational knowledge and clinical judgment of
nursing candidates preparing for licensure. The examination covers a wide spectrum of client care, from health
promotion and disease prevention to the management of acute and chronic conditions. It emphasizes the
application of the nursing process, pharmacological principles, and the ability to prioritize care in complex
scenarios. The questions are structured in a multiple-choice format and incorporate realistic client situations to test
critical thinking and decision-making skills essential for safe and effective nursing practice.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has pericarditis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Relief of pain when lying flat
C. A friction rub at the left lower sternal border
D. Decreased jugular venous pressure
🟢 C. A friction rub at the left lower sternal border
🔴 RATIONALE: A pericardial friction rub is a classic sign of pericarditis, caused by the inflamed pericardial
layers rubbing together. It is best heard at the left lower sternal border. Pain is typically worse when lying flat
and relieved by sitting up and leaning forward. Tachycardia, not bradycardia, is common, and jugular venous
pressure may be elevated.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will avoid eating large amounts of leafy green vegetables."
B. "I should use a soft-bristled toothbrush."
C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
D. "I will report any dark, tarry stools to my doctor."
🟢 C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
🔴 RATIONALE: Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin. Clients
should avoid these medications. The other statements are correct: limiting vitamin K-rich foods, using a soft
toothbrush to prevent gum bleeding, and reporting signs of bleeding (e.g., dark stools) are all appropriate.
,3. A nurse is planning care for a client with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the
following is the priority intervention?
A. Teaching the client about dietary carbohydrate counting.
B. Instructing the client on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
C. Administering the prescribed dose of insulin glargine.
D. Monitoring the client's blood glucose level before meals.
🟢 D. Monitoring the client's blood glucose level before meals.
🔴 RATIONALE: According to the nursing process, assessment is the first step. Monitoring blood glucose levels
provides essential baseline data to guide further interventions, including insulin administration. While all
options are important, obtaining accurate glucose readings is the priority to ensure safe medication
administration and prevent complications.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the drainage system above the level of the client's chest.
B. Strip the chest tube to maintain patency.
C. Clamp the chest tube when ambulating the client.
D. Ensure the water-seal chamber is filled with sterile water.
🟢 D. Ensure the water-seal chamber is filled with sterile water.
🔴 RATIONALE: The water-seal chamber must be maintained at the correct fluid level (usually 2 cm) to create an
airtight seal and prevent air from re-entering the pleural space. The drainage system should be kept below the
client's chest. Stripping or milking tubes is no longer a routine recommendation. Clamping tubes is only done
, briefly for specific procedures like changing the chamber and should be avoided generally to prevent tension
pneumothorax.
5. A nurse is assessing a post-operative client who received morphine for pain 30 minutes ago. The client's
respiratory rate is 8/min. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Acetylcysteine
🟢 A. Naloxone
🔴 RATIONALE: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse the effects of morphine and other opioids,
including respiratory depression. Flumazenil is for benzodiazepine overdose, protamine sulfate for heparin, and
acetylcysteine for acetaminophen toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which of the following actions
demonstrates proper use of the device?
A. The client shakes the inhaler before each use.
B. The client exhales forcefully after inhaling the medication.
C. The client holds the inhaler upside down.
D. The client inhales the medication while holding their breath for 1 second.
🟢 A. The client shakes the inhaler before each use.
🔴 RATIONALE: The inhaler should be shaken vigorously to mix the medication properly before each use. The
client should exhale before inhaling, not after. The inhaler should be held upright, and the client should hold
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains:
Fundamentals of Nursing Practice
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Maternal-Newborn Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Pharmacology and Parenteral Therapies
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Leadership, Management, and Delegation
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the foundational knowledge and clinical judgment of
nursing candidates preparing for licensure. The examination covers a wide spectrum of client care, from health
promotion and disease prevention to the management of acute and chronic conditions. It emphasizes the
application of the nursing process, pharmacological principles, and the ability to prioritize care in complex
scenarios. The questions are structured in a multiple-choice format and incorporate realistic client situations to test
critical thinking and decision-making skills essential for safe and effective nursing practice.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has pericarditis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Relief of pain when lying flat
C. A friction rub at the left lower sternal border
D. Decreased jugular venous pressure
🟢 C. A friction rub at the left lower sternal border
🔴 RATIONALE: A pericardial friction rub is a classic sign of pericarditis, caused by the inflamed pericardial
layers rubbing together. It is best heard at the left lower sternal border. Pain is typically worse when lying flat
and relieved by sitting up and leaning forward. Tachycardia, not bradycardia, is common, and jugular venous
pressure may be elevated.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will avoid eating large amounts of leafy green vegetables."
B. "I should use a soft-bristled toothbrush."
C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
D. "I will report any dark, tarry stools to my doctor."
🟢 C. "I can take ibuprofen for my headaches."
🔴 RATIONALE: Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin. Clients
should avoid these medications. The other statements are correct: limiting vitamin K-rich foods, using a soft
toothbrush to prevent gum bleeding, and reporting signs of bleeding (e.g., dark stools) are all appropriate.
,3. A nurse is planning care for a client with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the
following is the priority intervention?
A. Teaching the client about dietary carbohydrate counting.
B. Instructing the client on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
C. Administering the prescribed dose of insulin glargine.
D. Monitoring the client's blood glucose level before meals.
🟢 D. Monitoring the client's blood glucose level before meals.
🔴 RATIONALE: According to the nursing process, assessment is the first step. Monitoring blood glucose levels
provides essential baseline data to guide further interventions, including insulin administration. While all
options are important, obtaining accurate glucose readings is the priority to ensure safe medication
administration and prevent complications.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the drainage system above the level of the client's chest.
B. Strip the chest tube to maintain patency.
C. Clamp the chest tube when ambulating the client.
D. Ensure the water-seal chamber is filled with sterile water.
🟢 D. Ensure the water-seal chamber is filled with sterile water.
🔴 RATIONALE: The water-seal chamber must be maintained at the correct fluid level (usually 2 cm) to create an
airtight seal and prevent air from re-entering the pleural space. The drainage system should be kept below the
client's chest. Stripping or milking tubes is no longer a routine recommendation. Clamping tubes is only done
, briefly for specific procedures like changing the chamber and should be avoided generally to prevent tension
pneumothorax.
5. A nurse is assessing a post-operative client who received morphine for pain 30 minutes ago. The client's
respiratory rate is 8/min. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Acetylcysteine
🟢 A. Naloxone
🔴 RATIONALE: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse the effects of morphine and other opioids,
including respiratory depression. Flumazenil is for benzodiazepine overdose, protamine sulfate for heparin, and
acetylcysteine for acetaminophen toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about the use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Which of the following actions
demonstrates proper use of the device?
A. The client shakes the inhaler before each use.
B. The client exhales forcefully after inhaling the medication.
C. The client holds the inhaler upside down.
D. The client inhales the medication while holding their breath for 1 second.
🟢 A. The client shakes the inhaler before each use.
🔴 RATIONALE: The inhaler should be shaken vigorously to mix the medication properly before each use. The
client should exhale before inhaling, not after. The inhaler should be held upright, and the client should hold
